ECB’s emergency financial package will aim to help grassroots clubs as well as first class counties hit by costly delays

But pay cuts for centrally contracted players are not being discussed.

The postponement of the 2020 campaign is set to place a huge strain on the sport's fragile finances, with no cricket before May 28 and potentially well beyond that.

The ECB spent much of last week in talks with several key stakeholders - including the 18 first-class counties, the Professional Cricketers' Association and broadcasters - to map out measures which could be taken to keep the game afloat at a time when the usual summer revenue taps have run dry.

An action plan is likely to be delivered pending board approval soon, but the bumper deals commanded by England's top all-format players such as Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler will not be targeted.

They earn in the region of £1million from their ECB contracts, with red or white-ball specialists on a sliding pay scale.

With savings being sought across the board it is not impossible they will end up on reduced terms, but it is understood any such move would have to be a voluntary one considering the terms of their agreements.

Instead the ECB is likely to use its cash reserves - which have slipped considerably in recent years to around £11million - and offer support for clubs as they seek to access government schemes.

The eventual funding package is due to cover the recreational game as well the county system, with the ECB particularly eager to protect grassroots cricket as part of its promise to grow the game in the wider community.

Locally, the Southern Premier League season is due to start on May 2 with the Hampshire Cricket League beginning the week after.

The HCL have already said if no league games can be played by the end of June, any games subsequently played will only be on a ‘friendly’ basis with no promotion and relegation.

Across the county border, the Sussex Cricket League has given July 11 - the halfway point of their season in terms of fixtures - as the last date on which league matches can start if there is to be promotion and relegation as usual.

Further afield, the Northamptonshire Cricket League is due to start on April 25.

But league vice-chairman Robert Pack has suggested that if clubs get to play at all then it will be a “winning situation”.

Pack said: “If I am honest, I will be very surprised if we do play.

“We are one of those sports where everyone puts their hand on the ball and when you think about everything that goes into the game, it may be some time before teams can get out there.

“There’s been no further recommendation yet and they have given the end of May as the timescale for the professional game.

“Everyone wants to keep their hopes up and if we can be back in June or July then great.

“And when that time comes, the question will be about wins and losses. But, after all this that we are going through, does it really matter for this year?’